One Year Bible, April 12

JOSHUA 5:1-7:15                                                                                               
HEADQUARTERED AT GILGAL: Gilgal is the place where shame is rolled away from Israel for the years of bondage, the wilderness wanderings, their rebellion and disobedience (Josh 5:9). The new generation is in town! Gilgal becomes the headquarters for conquering the Land.

PREPARATION FOR CONQUERING: Circumcision created "the hill of the foreskins" - the cutting away of the flesh. The NT version is water baptism and is a sign of the New Covenant. It is a picture of the Holy Spirit circumcising a stony heart. If ever a people were vulnerable to attack, it would be Israel for the next four days! But then they SAT for one more week as they celebrated the Passover. A change in diet: The manna ceased. They had to gather their own food, beginning with "parched corn" - actually roasted grain. It symbolizes Word that has been tested and proven in practical walking out. They had to get it themselves; no one would feed them now. They are walking in mature faith. Joshua's Visitation: The "Captain of the Army of the Lord" fought for Israel. Jesus came, ready for battle, and gave the battle plan for taking the stronghold of Jericho.

FALL OF JERICHO: Imagine 3 million people in agreement, walking in the same direction, quietly. 1/2 million foot soldiers first, then 7 robed priests in white with rams' horns, next the Ark, then 2-1/2 million children, women, and old men. Jericho covered 320 acres and was about 5 miles around in circumference. It was about 4 miles each way to Gilgal - that's 13 miles a day in the heat and dust. On the 7th day, it would have taken about 11-12 hours to march over 39 miles, as the city fell on the 13th round. Then they rushed into the city and mopped up. Everything about that system was to be destroyed except for the metals of value, which were taken and used in the Temple. The flesh/world system was destroyed - all but Rahab and her household.

ACCURSED THING:  Anything produced by the flesh.  It is like a "little leaven" - and it leavens the whole lump. It will curse the whole lump/ the whole camp of Israel. "And trouble it" - to stir up in calamity. When God is against you, EVERYTHING is against you! Sin affects others and it always brings death and defeat.  It must be judged.

AI, "THE HEAP OF RUINS":   The next city they were going to capture was Ai. Joshua's spies felt it was a piece of cake, so he didn't even send his whole army. 36 Israelites were killed and the rest ran. They couldn’t understand why God would promise them swift victory over all their enemies, and then allow about three thousand of their soldiers to be chased and humiliated by the idol-worshipping Amorites. But it was not because of unfaithfulness on God's part, but because of unfaithfulness on the people's part.

There was "sin in their midst". Sin - to forfeit through missing the mark. They had "transgressed the covenant" - Transgressed - to knowingly refuse to obey authority, to rebel. "taken the accursed thing" - taken God's portion for themselves (His tithe of the Land). and "dissembled" - lied, were untrue. Prayer and intercession are NOT a substitute for repentance and cleansing.

RESPONSE:   There are a lot of words for what can go wrong in a person's life. "Sin" isn't just "missing the mark" - it is a forfeiture! What do we forfeit? I'd say God's Presence in power and victory. The "armor of God" isn't just something we apply on the outside like paint!  It is character development. Integrity. That is why Joshua ordered the people to "sanctify themselves" BEFORE they crossed the Jordan River. It was a matter of safety! The best defense against our enemies is a sanctified life. One man's sin adversely affected people who had nothing to do with it. Actually sin always affects others.

AND ANOTHER THING: Joshua didn't ask God about how he should take Ai.  His spies were self-confident as they recommended a head-on approach to Ai. Truth is, we can do NOTHING without God, and NOTHING of the SELF- is acceptable in the spirit realm either. So self-confidence was judged , and it cost them 36 men. Self-confidence is a subtle sin of independence.   I have to guard against it as much as I guard against thinking I can't do anything right!

LUKE 15:1-32                                                                                                       
Speaking of having "outsiders" for dinner! Jesus had outcasts over, and then compared them to a lost sheep and a lost coin - which their owners tore the place up looking for them! When one is found, even heaven rejoices! In fact, of the two kinds of people: the "good", do-your-duty and stick-close-to-home kind --- and the "sinner", let's eat-drink-and-be-merry kind --- guess who is more likely to connect with God??!!! You see, blessing is not a sign of spiritual maturity. The Pharisees were blessed, had had all their Father's goods for centuries, but had done nothing with it but hoard it. The REAL issue with them was their integrity; they were hypocrites.  They thought that they "deserved” the Father's blessing because they had "served Him and had not transgressed His commandments." Hah! THOSE OLD WET BLANKETS COULD HAVE HAD A PARTY WITH GOD'S STUFF!!!!

RESPONSE:   It's hard to believe that when I finally surrendered myself to God, that He kissed me and kissed me and kissed me (The original language says that's what He did!). He is full of compassion and if the parables can be stretched to include me, then He tore this world up looking for me! I'm afraid I am not much of a bargain, but God thinks I am. Now if I could just keep from casting pharisaical eyes on the prodigals out there who SHOULD know better. They were raised in the Father's House and understand His commandments better than most. Yet, they squander their inheritance on worldly pursuits that don't deserve their attention. Why?

PSALM 81:1-16                                                                                                    
PRAISE THE LORD: PSALM 81-84. All Psalms teach us to worship and to be honest with God. God's throne is where Truth is seen in Reality. This is also where God reveals the inner workings of our own hearts. Although God loves us, He is relentless in cutting away sin. He expects us to deal with temptation ruthlessly. Our true enemies are not people, but are pressures of the devil, philosophies of the world, and the attitudes and affections of the flesh within. Our soul (mind, will, emotions) cries out for deliverance. Psalm 81-84 show us God's desire to see us delivered and blessed.

PSALM 81 - FOUR MOTIVATIONS FOR PRAISING GOD:
(1) It's a law of God.
(2) It is a testimony to the goodness and greatness of God.
(3) It brings us deliverance from bondage.
(4) Because God answers our prayers.

"So I gave them up" The most fearful punishment for rebellion there is - when God gives us up to our own appetites, we will NEVER be satisfied.

IF WE WALK IN GOD'S WAYS OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING:
(1) He will subdue our enemies (deliver us from struggling).
(2) He will "turn His hand" against our adversaries. (fight our battles)
(3) He'll give us the finest and the best.
(4) He'll satisfy our hungers.

PROVERBS 13:1                                                                                                 
If you are WISE, you listen to "instruction". This word is actually "chastisement, correction, discipline". How can you stop being stupid if you never heed correction? But, a "scorner", or a "mocker, scoffer" won't listen.

RESPONSE:   Praise and thanksgiving to God are my "cure-all".  I haven't found anything yet that it can't "fix". I think I struggle a lot when I could have avoided it by turning my attention (my mouth) to God, getting it off myself and how I was being "mistreated". Self-pity and ingratitude are KILLERS - and downers, and actually turn people away. No one wants to be around a negative complainer. When we think we need encouragement, unfortunately, no one wants to be around us to give it. If we want encouragement, then we must exude joy and positive emotions, and that's only possible through praise and thanksgiving to God for His goodness and greatness.